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Deep underground, zones of metamorphism form around the hot magma of batholiths. L.Gardiner/Windows Original

Contact Metamorphism

Rocks become metamorphosed when they are close to hot molten rock. This is called contact metamorphism.

Contact metamorphism can either happen deep underground or at the surface of the Earth. Underground, hot magma changes the rocks that are near it. Above ground, lava erupting from a volcano changes the rock that it erupts onto. The amount of rock that is changed depends on how much magma there is.

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